HP Slate 7 Review and Gaming Performance

A couple of weeks ago, i’ve already showed you a bunch of Android tablets made by HP under the latest generation HP Slate series.
This tablet series consists 3 different models, ranging from the low-end to the high-end versions, with HP Slate 7 Plus becoming the low-end model, HP Slate 7 Extreme being the mid-end, and last but not least, HP Slate 8 Pro getting the high-end title.

The first aforementioned tablet, HP Slate 7 Plus is packing a so-last-year’s Tegra 3 quad-core processor, while the rest of the 2 tablets, HP Slate 7 Extreme and HP Slate8 Pro are powered by the latest and greatest, Tegra 4 processor.

Despite being the underdog tablets, all of these HP Slate tablets are actually really great quality tablets, especially in gaming performance.

Even the low-end model, HP Slate 7 Plus, is also great in handling some of the graphically demanding games like GTA Vice City, Dead Trigger, Need for Speed Most Wanted, Modern Combat 4, N.O.V.A 3 or Horn (an awesome RPG!).

So if the low-end model of this tablet series is already great for gaming, then its 2 sibling, HP Slate 7 Extreme and HP Slate 8 Pro will be more powerful for playing games.

In fact, these 2 tablets are more than capable to handle almost all the latest graphics intense games like Asphalt 8: Airborne, GTA San Andreas, Dead Trigger 2 or GT Racing 2, all in full graphics and buttery smooth performance, thanks to the 72-core GPU on their Tegra 4 processor.

HP Slate 7

Anyway, besides releasing these HP Slate tablet line, this manufacturer actually already has some older-gen tablets under the same flag, HP Slate.

And one of them is HP Slate 7.

The thing that really blows me away with this tablet is that, despite being an older-gen tablet, not even with the latest powerful processor, HP Slate 7 impressively can handle many latest graphics intense games in smooth performance and in full graphics.

Amazingly, this tablet is also capable to run even the latest game, GTA San Andreas, in smooth performance, although not in full graphics.

But i’ll talk more about its gaming performance later on.

So this is the reason why i want to bring up this tablet and recommend it to you, especially if you’re into tablet gaming.

This tablet may not be considered as the equal rival for tablets like Tegra Note 7, Kindle Fire HDX 7, Google Nexus 7, even its own siblings, the latest generation HP Slate series (HP Slate 7 Plus, 7 Extreme and 8 Pro).

However, with that great gaming performance, i just can’t let this tablet be ignored especially given its great gaming capability, despite using some mediocre hardware.

Well, if you’re interested to know more about this device, especially its gaming performance, then here you go, my personal review of HP Slate 7.

Introduction

If you go to the tablet stores, even mobile stores in general, you’re probably gonna have a hard time to find any of HP tablets.

This is actually not of a surprise because HP is now still considered as a small player in this business, especially compared to big players that always ship million units of slates every quarter, like Apple, Samsung and Asus (and Sony probably?).

And with this type of processors, no doubt that they are great for gaming.

Besides these 3 latest-gen tablets from HP, this company also has one other great gaming tablet. this one is called HP Slate 7.

This tablet is actually an older tablet, released in early 2013.

Unlike the latest-gen HP Slate tablets aforementioned above, which are powered by Tegra processors, this HP Slate 7 interestingly is only packing a dual-core Cortex-A9 CPU (i'm not sure yet about the type of processor that this tablet is packing, but i'll let you know soon), clocked at 1.6GHz per core, which is considered as really outdated for today’s standards.

However, what makes me really impressed with this tablet is that, HP Slate 7 amazingly is able to run some of the latest graphics intense games across the Google Play Store, like Modern Combat 4, Need for Speed Most Wanted, GTA Vice City and even the latest-gen GTA San Andreas.

And this is already mind blowing for me because i personally didn’t expect this tablet with its hardware specs, would be great for handling these latest high-performing games.

So with that being said, then it’s just really easy for me to recommend you this tablet, especially if you’re looking for a budget tablet that is also great for playing games.

By looking at its specs, then this tablet definitely will be positioned on a cheap budget tablet market, alongside Samsung GALAXY Tab 3 7.0 or Asus MemoPad 7 HD.

Design

When it comes to design, HP Slate 7 actually doesn’t have anything special compared to other 7-inch Android tablets out there.

In fact, this HP’s tablet looks really generic with its rivals, from the same looking bezels, similar rounded corners, same aspect ratio of 16:9 and the same type of materials, with glossy plastic on the front side.

However, something that must still be appreciated on this HP’s tablet is probably its back cover that kind of looks much better and has more premium feel compared to other 7-inch Android tablets that mostly have cheap looking plastic back cover.

It has this matte finish all over it without any unnecessary elements on it, besides its “HP” logo engraved on the center and some information related to this device.

I also like the “HP” logo on the rear side of this tablet.

It may look nothing premium as the Apple logo on iPad, but i still like HP’s own logo on its back, making users feel proud of holding this tablet in front of public because as we all know, HP is one huge computer-related manufacturer in the world.

And that’s kind of cool because that gives a huge value to this tablet.

And a LOT.

I mean, compared to holding other cheap unpopular Android tablets in front of people, i believe you would feel prouder when holding this HP’s tablet, right?

In HP’s tablet portfolio, then HP Slate 7 is definitely considered as an older device from this company, especially compared to the latest-gen HP Slate series that just got launched at the end of last year.

However, something that makes this tablet interesting is that, despite being an older-gen tablet plus with outdated specs, i’m personally impressed with the performance, especially gaming performance of this tablet.

I mean, if we compare the hardware specs of this tablet with other last-gen HP Slate series, which all of them are powered by Tegra “beast” processors, then HP Slate 7 has no chance to compete.

And most of us probably think that this tablet would be horrible for gaming, compared to its sibling.

Well apparently, that is so wrong about that.

Despite using some hardware specs that are considered as outdated for today’s standards, HP Slate 7 surprisingly is capable to deliver a great performance when handling some of the latest graphically demanding games on Google Play Store.

I’ve actually already seen its gaming performance in many video reviews around YouTube, and i’m just blown away with this tablet.

I just didn’t expect this tablet to be that great in handling games.

I’ll talk more about its gaming performance later on, okay. So stay tuned!

Anyway, HP Slate 7 features a 7-inch display sporting the resolution of 1024x600 pixels, a dual-core Cortex-A9 CPU, 1GB of RAM, 3.15MP camera on the back that is able to take 720p videos, VGA camera on the front, 8GB of basic internal storage, microSD card slot for up to 32GB, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean pre-installed, 5 hours of battery life for media and many other standard features.

However, this tablet is only a WiFi model, so there will be no SIM card slot on board.

Screen

Compared to the latest-gen HP Slate tablets, then HP Slate 7 will fall in the cheap budget tablet market given that it’s only packing a low-resolution 1024x600 pixel display.

So there is nothing to write home about on the display of this tablet.

It looks average and less sharper compared to its 7-inch rivals on the market that mostly already adopt 720p resolution display.

But the good news is, there is Samsung GALAXY Tab 3 7.0 that could save this tablet from embarrassment.

That’s because, despite being a popular and best selling tablet, this Samsung’s slate interestingly is still packing the same exact 1024x600 pixel screen.

So HP Slate 7 definitely still deserves to be positioned around today’s tablet market, although in low-end competition.

In real implementation, then it’s so obvious the low-resolution screen on this HP’s tablet doesn’t look as sharp and clear as other 7-inch tablets with HD display.

And you’ll always need to do the pinch-to-zoom gestures when your eyes can’t read the text or see the images perfectly, especially when reading books or browsing the web.

However, there is one great thing of using this low-resolution on this tablet.

As we all know, this HP Slate 7 is not sporting some powerful hardware specs in it, compared to its siblings that all use Tegra processors.

Therefore, by using this display, it actually makes this tablet perform much faster and smoother because there are not many pixels that must be executed by its processor when delivering its power to the tablet.

Not to mention, by using this low-resolution display, its battery life will also last much longer in heavy usage.

User Interface and Features

Just like its latest-gen siblings (HP Slate 7 Plus, HP Slate 7 Extreme and HP Slate 8 Pro), this tablet also deploys some standard elements of Android OS on its UI, like the standard homescreen, widgets, app shortcuts, and then, there are also the notification window, setting window and not to mention, the multitasking window apps that you’ve already come to love from Android tablets.

So there is nothing to write home about on the UI of this tablet. it still looks similar with other regular Android tablets out there.

The only difference seen on HP Slate 7 is that, on this tablet there are some HP-related apps that come pre-loaded.

But the good news is, there are not many bloatwares that being pre-loaded on this tablet.

So this tablet can perform much faster and smoother, plus its battery life could last much longer given that there are not many bloatwares running in the background.

Performance

Compared to HP Slate 7 Plus, Slate 7 Extreme or Slate 8 Pro that all are powered by Tegra processors, then there is nothing special with the processor inside HP Slate 7.

So when it comes to performance, HP Slate 7 definitely is not on par with other last-gen HP Slate tablets.

The good thing is, this HP Slate 7 is only sporting a 1024x600 pixel display, which is way lower than the ones found on its siblings.

So by using this low-resolution display, the overall performance of this tablet is actually as fast and smooth as those last-gen Slate 7 tablets, although not as powerful as them.

So for doing some basic tasks like watching movies, reading books or magazines, checking emails, checking Twitter, browsing the web or playing games, all of these games can be perfectly executed on this tablet in smooth performance.

And thanks to its 1GB of RAM, opening multiple apps or multi-window apps still feels smooth and fast without any significant lags whatsoever.

Back to Top
Just like i already mentioned above, one thing that really really makes me surprised and impressed with HP Slate 7 is definitely its gaming performance.

To be honest with you, I personally didn’t expect this tablet to be that great and awesome when handling many latest graphically demanding games.

I just cannot believe that the tablet with an average processor, which on paper, is just not on par with the Tegra 3 and Tegra 4 inside the last gen HP Slate tablets, is more than capable to handle many latest heavy games in smooth performance and in full graphics.

I believe its low resolution display is one of the reasons why this tablet flies when playing games.

As i’ve already seen on many video reviews of HP Slate 7, this tablet amazingly is strong enough to play some of the latest graphically demanding games like, Asphalt 7, Need for Speed Most Wanted, Modern Combat 4, GTA Vice City and Iron Man, all in buttery smooth performance and in full graphics.

And more impressively, i’ve also seen this tablet capable to play GTA San Andreas, which is really heavy games due to its heavy maps and graphics, although not in full graphics.

So if this tablet is already proved to be capable to play these heavy high-performing games, then you can expect the same thing on much older games released before them, like Modern Combat (1, 2, 3), N.O.V.A (1, 2, 3), Need for Speed (SHIFT and Undercover), GTA III, Asphalt (5, 6, 7), Dungeon Hunter (1, 2, 3) and other older games.

So if you’re currently looking for a cheap budget tablet with great gaming performance, make no mistake, HP Slate 7 is definitely a good choice for you.

Anyway guys, if you want to know more about the gaming performance of HP Slate 7, including what games that will run on this tablet, check out my YouTube video playlist or Pinterest page. :)

Camera

The camera of HP Slate 7 is actually similar with the one found on Samsung GALAXY Tab 3 7.0, which both share the same 3.15MP camera.

However, when it comes to quality, then Samsung’s slate might be the winner here given that Samsung’s devices have been known to have great cameras.

Even so, having a 3.15 rear-facing camera that is able to take 720p videos at 30fps should still be appreciated, right?

Who knows, its mediocre camera might come in handy especially if you forgot to bring your digital camera or smartphone at your disposal.

It might not deliver some great and sharp looking photos to you, but at least, it gets the job done and the photos are still worth showing off to your Instagram followers,

Battery Life

Unfortunately, there is no information regarding the amount of battery capacity inside this tablet.

But according to HP through GSMarena, this tablet is more than capable to last around 5 hours when enjoying media contents, of course in one full charge.

However, if you’re gonna use this tablet to do some heavy intense tasks without resting the screen, like for watching TV shows/movies in marathon or playing some games in the row, then its battery life could probably last around 4 to 5 hours.

My Personal Opinions

So my final words about this tablet is, for me, i’m personally impressed with this cheap tablet.

I mean, despite being a cheap budget tablet alongside Samsung GALAXY Tab 3 7.0, i’m surprised to see this HP’s tablet capable to run many latest graphically demanding games like Modern Combat 4, GTA Vice City and Need for Speed Most Wanted in smooth performance and impressively in full graphics, something that i didn’t expect to come out from this tablet.

And more amazingly, this tablet is also able to play one game that i consider as heavy for today’s standards, GTA San Andreas, which deploys some huge maps and heavy graphics here and there in the gameplay.

I think HP has done a great job in optimizing the software and hardware of this tablet, making sure it runs perfectly and works seamlessly even for playing games.

When it comes to spec sheet, then HP Slate 7 has nothing special to show off to its rivals out there, even its HP Slate siblings that have way more powerful processors than HP Slate 7.

However, given that Samsung GALAXY Tab 3 7.0 (and the next-gen Samsung GALAXY Tab 3 Lite) is packing the specs that are considered as equal with this HP’s tablet, then HP Slate 7 still deserves to be positioned on today’s tablet market, alongside Samsung’s slate, Asus MemoPad 7 HD or Acer Iconia A1.

So if you’re currently looking for a cheap budget tablet from a well-known brand, plus that has great gaming performance, then HP Slate 7 is still a good choice for you.